Louvered ventilator device



1966 M. c. BELDEN 3, 8 ,852

LOUVERED VENTILATOR DEVICE Filed May 11, 1964 INVENTOR. WA 4 4449 6254254;

United States Patent 3,287,852 LOUVERED VENTILATOR DEVICE Merland C. Belden, Hopkins, Minn., assignor to Louver Manufacturing Co., Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 11, 1964, Ser. No. 366,559 Claims. (Cl. 4987) This invention relates to ventilator devices and more specifically to adjustable louver ventilator devices for use in permitting controlled ventilation of a building structure or the like.

In many commercial or other large building structures, it is often desirable to provide adjustable ventilator means to control the inflow of air to such buildings. It has been found that the single unit adjustable ventilator devices which include only one set of movable louvers do not provide the necessary control over the exterior weather conditions. Therefore it has often been neces- SBIY to provide a pair of ventilator units for this purpose, one which has fixed louvers and the other having movable louvers. These double units are mounted one behind the other and have a relatively large depth dimension and cannot be mounted flush with respect to wall structures which do not have a corresponding thickness dimension.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a compact ventilator device for building structures and including a relatively thin profile frame structure having fixed and movable louvers, the latter being swingable relative to the fixed louvers to control the infiowing air through the ventilator while permitting accurate control over the extreme weather conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel ventilator device for building structures including a frame having a plurality of angularly disposed fixed louvers, and a plurality of movable louvers each being suspended by its top edge portion from the top edge portion of one of the fixed louvers, whereby the swinging movement of the movable louvers because of its unique pivotal suspension will not be subject to binding even if the frame structure is slightly distorted during installation of the ventilator device or because of settling of the building structure to which it is applied.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel compact ventilator device for building structures including a frame structrue having fixed and movable louvers secured thereto, the unique suspension of the movable louvers from the fixed louvers obviating the necessity of constructing the frame structure of thick or heavy gauge metal.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view on an enlarged scale of the end portions of a fixed and movable louver and illustrating the manner of interengagement thereof.

, Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that one embodiment of the ventilator device, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is there shown. This ventilator device 10 is of metal construction and is of the type normally employed in commerical or other large building structures and the like. The ventilator device 10 includes a generally rectangular shaped rigid, vertically oriented frame structure 11 which is adapted to be mounted in the wall of a commercial or other large building structure. This frame structure includes vertical frame members 12 which are of generally channel-shaped configuration and which have their respective ends rigidly connected to transverse frame members 13 which are also preferably of channel-shaped configuration. When the frame structure 11 is mounted in a recess in a wall of a building, one surface of the frame structure will be presently exteriorly While the other surface thereof will be interiorly presented. Thus it will be seen that one flange of the channel-shaped vertical frame members 12 presents an eX- terior surface 12a while the other flange of these vertical frame members presents an interior surface 12b. Similarly, one of the flanges of each transverse framemernber 13 presents an exterior surface 13a while the other flange of each transverse frame member presents an interior surface with respect to the building structure to which the ventilator device 10 is mounted.

The ventilator device 10 also includes a plurality of elongate, substantially flat, similar, fixed louver members 14 which are disposed in substantialy parallel relation with respect to each other and which transverse the frame structure 11. These fixed louver members 14 extend between the vertical frame members 12 and have their respective opposite ends thereof rigidly connected to these vertical frame members by any suitable securing means such as welding or the like. Referring now to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the fixed louver members 14 are each inclined with respect to their longitudinal axis and each extends downwardly from the interior surface of the frame structure towards the exterior surface thereof. Thus it will be seen that each adjacent pair of fixed louvers defines an inclined air passage 15 therebetween.

Referring again to FIG. 3 it will be seen that each fixed louver member 14 has its lowermost end bent downwardly to present a generally vertically extending lower edge or marginal portion 16 while the upper end of each of these fixed louver members is angularly bent to define a generally vertcially disposed upper marginal edge portion 17. It will also be noted that the fixed louver members 14 substanially transverse the width of the vertical frame members 12. It will further be noted that the marginal portions 16 are disposed in substantially flush or coplanar relation with respect to the exterior surface of the frame structure 11.

It will be appreciated that through the use of fixed louver members 14, adverse environmental conditions such as rain, snow or the like cannot readily pass through the ventilator device 10 since these elements must pass through the :air passages 15 from the exterior in an up Ward manner. It is also desirable to provide means for controlling the amount of air that passes through the ventilator device 10 so that the heat exchange action between the interior and exterior of the building structure may be accurately control-led. To this end, it will be seen that the ventilator device 10 is provided with a plurality of similar, elongate, substantially flat, movable louver members 18 which are disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other throughout their movement and which are similar in size and configuration to the fixed louver members 14. These movable louver members 18 traverse the frame structure 11 and are mounted for shifting movement relative to the fixed louver members 14.

Each of these movable louver members 18 has the lower marginal edge portion thereof angularly bent as at 19 while the upper marginal edge portion of these movable louver members 18 is arcuately bent to define an engaging portion or element 20 which is disposed in hearing engagement with substantially the entire upper marginal edge of one of the fixed louver members 14.

The movable louver members 18 are mounted for swinging movement between an open and closed position with respect to the inclined air passages 15. When the movable louver members 18 are in the open position, these louver members are positioned against the interior surface of the associated fixed louver members 14 and when these movable louver members are shifted to the closed position, they completely obstruct the air passages 15. It Will be noted that the lower marginal edge portions of each movable louver member 18 is disposed in substantially overlapping relation with respect to the next adjacent lower movable and fixed louver members. It will be appreciated that the movable louvers may be adjusted in any position between the extreme open and closed positions whereby the size of the air passages 15 may be variously adjusted.

Since the movable louver members 18 are merely suspended from their associated fixed louver member 14 by the interengagernent of the engaging bearing element 20 with the upper edge portion of the associated fixed louver member, means are provided which cooperate with the engaging element 20 for retaining each movable louver from disengagement with the associated fixed louver memher. To this end, it will be seen that the longitudinal terminal portions of the bearing element 20 for each movable louver member 18 is recessed as at 21 whereby the upper longitudinal edge defined by this recess of each movable louver member is disposed in substantially coplanar relation With respect to the upper longitudinal edge of the associated fixed louver member 14. An arcuate retaining element 22 is rigidly affixed to each end of each fixed louver member 14 as by welding or the like. Each pair of retaining elements 22 is disposed in overlying relation with respect to the upper longitudinal recessed portions of each movable louver member 18 and cooperates with the bearing element 20 of each movable louver member to retain the movable louver members in suspended relation from the associated fixed louver members. Thus it will be seen that the movable louver members are suspended throughout their longitudinal edges from the upper longitudinal edges of the fixed louver members, and there is no direct connection between the movable louver members and the frame structure 11. Therefore the frame structure 11 may be slightly distorted and the movable louver members will still be able to swing relative to the fixed louver members since these movable members are not directly connected to the frame structure in the manner of conventional louver structures.

Means are also provided for swinging all of the movable louver members in unison and his means includes a plurality of identical attachment brackets 23, each having outturned flanges 24 at one end thereof which are attached to the inner surface of one of the movable louver members and each being bifurcated as at 25 at the other end thereof. Referring again to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the attachment brackets 23 are of elongate configuration and curve generally upwardly towards the interior direction and the bifurcated end portions of the attachspouse to changes in temperature.

merit brackets 23 are pivotally attached by pivotal conuections 26 to an elongate vertically oriented pivot bar 27. This pivotal connection between the bifurcated ends of the attachment brackets 23 and the pivot bar 27 is formed by a punching operation wherein the arms of the bifurcated end portion of the attachment brackets are punched inwardly with the elongate pivot bar positioned therebetween. Thus no additional pivot elements are needed and a very firm but movable connection is provided between the attachment brackets and the elongate pivot bar 27.

It will be seen that one of the attachment brackets 23 is apertured intermediate its ends and one end of an elongate coil spring 28 is connected theretowhile the other end of this coil spring 28 is connected to the aperture defining the pivotal connection between the next adjacent lower attachment bracket 23, and the pivot bar 27. With this arrangement, the spring 28 tends to normally urge the movable louver members towards the closed position. Although the elongate pivot bar may be manually shifted in a vertical direction to open the movable louver members 18, it is pointed out the temperature responsive control means may be connected to this elongate pivot bar 27 to cause vertical shifting movement thereof in re- It is also pointed out that since the movable louvers are normally urged to the closed position, additional means will be inter-connected to the pivot bar 27 if a manual operation is utilized, to retain the pivot bar in an adjusted open position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a novel ventilator device which includes a plurality of fixed louvers from which are suspended a plurality of movable louvers which are shiftahle between open and closed positions for controlling passage of air through the ventilator device. It will be noted that through the unique manner of interconnecting the movable louvers with the fixed louvers, there is no direct connection between the frame of the ventilator device and the movable louvers whereby the operation of the latter will not be impaired even if the frame structure is distorted through installation or through settling of the building structure to which it is applied.

This particular arrangement permits the use of light gauge metals for the construction of the frame structure since my novel ventilator device has no pivot pin connection between the movable louvers and the frame structure. I

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a novel ventilator device which is especially adaptable for use in large or commercial type building structures and which can be very nicely accommodated in the ventilation and air conditioning systems of such building structures.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel ventilator device which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction but one which functions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore known comparable devices. It Will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various .parts without departing from the scope of my invention. What is claimed is: 1. A ventilator louver device for use with building structures to permit controlled ventilation thereof, said device comprising a substantially rigid, generally rectangular, vertically oriented, frame structure to be mounted in a Wall structure of a building and presenting an exterior and interior surface, said frame structure including vertical and transverse frame members, i

a plurality of similar, elongate fixed louver members extending transversely of said frame structure and each louver member being rigidly connected at its respective ends to said vertical name members, said I3 l fixed louver members being disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other and each being inclined transversely of its length and downwardly from the interior surface of the frame struc- 6 a substantially rigid, generally rectangular, vertically oriented frame structure to be mounted in a wall structure of a building and presenting an exterior and an interior surface, said frame structure includture towards the exterior surface thereof, thereby ing vertical and transverse frame members, defining air passages between adjacent of said fixed a plurality of similar, elongate fixed louver members louver members, extending transversely of said frame structure and a plurality of similar, elongate, substantially parallel each louver member being rigidly connected at its movable louver members extending transversely of respective ends to said vertical frame members, said said frame structure and each having an upper longi- 10 fixed louver members being disposed in substantially tudinal edge portion disposed in overlying bearing parallel relation with respect 'to each other and each engagement with an upper edge portion of one of being inclined transversely of its length and downsaid fixed louver members whereby each movable Wardly from 'the'interior surface of the frame struclouver member is pivotally suspended from a fixed ture towards the exterior surface thereof, thereby louver member for pivotal movement between open defining air passages between adjacent of said fixed and closed positions, each movable louver member louver members, being disposed in abutting relation with the interior a plurality of similar, elongate, substantially flat, paralsurface of the associated fixed louver member when lel movable louver members extending transversely the former is in the open position and being disof said frame structure, said movable louver memposed in obstructing relation with respect to one of bers being inclined transversely of their lengths and said air passages when in the closed position, having an upper longitudinal edge portion, means means on each of said fixed louver members engaging on the upper longitudinal edge portion of each of the upper edge portion of the associated movable said movable louver members pivotally engaging the louver member for retaining the latter in suspended upper longitudinal edge portion of one of said fixed relation therewith, louver members and constituting the only connection and means interconnected with said movable louver between said movable louver members with said members for simultaneously causing pivotal moveframe structure and pivotally suspending each movment of said movable louver members between said able member for pivotal movement relative to said open and closed positions. fixed louver member between open and closed posi- 2. A ventilator louver device for use with building tions, each movable louver member being disposed structures to permit controlled ventilation thereof, said in abutting relation with the interior surface of the device comprising associated fixed louver member when in the open a substantially rigid, generally rectangular vertically position and being disposed in obstructing relation oriented frame structure to be mounted in a wall with respect to one of said air passages when in the structure of a building and presenting an exterior closed position, and an interior surface, said frame structure includand means pivotally interconnecting all of said moving vertical and transverse frame members, able louver members and being operable to cause a plurality of similar, elongate, substantially flat, fixed pivoting movement in unison of said movable louver louver members extending transversely of said frame members between said open and closed positions. structure and each fixed louver member being rigidly 4. A ventilator louver device for use with building connected at its respective ends to said vertical frame structures to permit controlled ventilation thereof, said members, said fixed louver members being disposed device comprising in substantially parallel relation with respect to a substantially rigid rectangular, vertically oriented each other and each being inclined transversely of frame structure to be mounted in a wall structure its length and downwardly from the interior surface of a building and presenting an exterior and interior of the frame structure towards the exterior surface surface, said frame structure including vertical and thereof, thereby defining air pas-sages between adtransverse frame members, j-acent of said fixed louver members, a plurality of similar, elongate fixed louver members a plurality of similar, elongate, substantially parallel extending transversely of said frame structure and movable louver members extending transversely of each louver member being rigidly connected at its said frame structure and each having an upper longirespective ends to said vertical frame members, said tudinal edge portion bent and disposed in overlying fixed louver members being disposed in substantially bearing engagement with an upper edge portion of parallel relation with respect to each other and being one of said fixed louver members whereby each inclined transversely of its length and downwardly movable louver member is pivotally suspended from 5 from the interior surface of the frame structure toa fixed louver member for pivotal movement be- Wards the exterior surface thereof, thereby defining tween open and closed positions, each movable louver air passages between adjacent of said fixed louver member being disposed in abutting relation with the members, interior surface of the associated fixed louver mema plurality of similar, elongate, substantially parallel her when in the open position and being disposed movable louver members extending transversely of in obstructing relation with respect to one of said said frame structure and each having an upper lonair passages when in the closed position, gitudinal edge portion engaging the upper marginal each of said fixed louver members having a retaining portion of one of said fixed louver members Where element afiixed thereto and overlying and engaging r by each movable louver member is pivotally susthe upper edge portion of the associated movable pended from afixed louver member for pivotal movelouver member for retaining the latter in suspended ment between open and closed positions, each movrelation therewith, able louver member being disposed in abutting reand an elongate pivot bar pivotally connected with all lation with the interior surface of the associated of said movable louver members and being s-hiftable 7O fixed louver member when the former is in the open to cause pivotal movement of said movable members position and being disposed in obstructing relation in unison between said open and closed positions. with respect to one of said air passages when in the 3. A ventilator louver device for use with building closed position, structures to permit controlled ventilation thereof, said means on each of said fixed louver members engaging d i comprising the upper marginal edge portion of said associated movable louver member for retaining the latter in suspended relation therewith,

a plurality of substantially identical attachment brackets each being connected with one of said movable louver members and projecting interiorly therefrom,

an elongate, generally vertically oriented pivot bar pivotally connected to each of said attachment brackets and being vertically shiftable to cause pivoting of all of said movable louver members in unison between said open and closed positions.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 and resilient means interconnected with one of said attachment brackets and said pivot bar for normally urging said movable louver members in unison towards the closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hayes l8962 Schueler.

Wine 18962 Stacey 98-110 Goldfisher 189-62 Lars-on l8962 X Nelson 98121 Drechsel 16172 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VENTILATOR LOUVER DEVICE FOR USE WITH BUILDING STRUCTURES TO PERMIT CONTROLLED VENTILATION THEREOF, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR, VERTICALLY ORIENTED, FRAME STRUCTURE TO BE MOUNTED IN A WALL STRUCTURE OF A BUILDING AND PRESENTING AN EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SURFACE, SAID FRAME STRUCTURE INCLUDING VERTICAL OF SIMILAR, ELONGATE FIXED LOUVER MEMBERS A PLURALITY OF SIMILAR, ELONGATE FIXED LOUVER MEMBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE AND EACH LOUVER MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY CONNECTED AT ITS RESPECTIVE ENDS TO SAID VERTICAL FRAME MEMBERS, SAID FIXED LOUVER MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND EACH BEING INCLINED TRANSVERSELY OF ITS LENGTH AND DOWNWARDLY FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FRAME STRUCTURE TOWARDS THE EXTERIOR SURFACE THEREOF, THEREBY DEFINING AIR PASSAGES BETWEEN ADJACENT OF SAID FIXED LOUVER MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF SIMILAR, ELONGATE, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL MOVABLE LOUVER MEMBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE AND EACH HAVING AN UPPER LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION DISPOSED IN OVERLYING BEARING ENGAGEMENT WITH AN UPPER EDGE PORTION OF ONE OF SAID FIXED LOUVER MEMBERS WHEREBY EACH MOVABLE LOUVER MEMBER IS PIVOTALLY SUSPENDED FROM A FIXED LOUVER MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, EACH MOVABLE LOUVER MEMBER BEING DISPOSED IN ABUTTING RELATION WITH THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE ASSOCIATED FIXED LOUVER MEMBER WHEN THE FORMER IS IN THE OPEN POSITION AND BEING DISPOSED IN OBSTRUCTING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO ONE OF SAID AIR PASSAGES WHEN IN THE CLOSED POSITION, MEANS ON EACH OF SAID FIXED LOUVER MEMBERS ENGAGING THE UPPER EDGE PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED MOVABLE LOUVER MEMBER FOR RETAINING THE LATTER IN SUSPENDED RELATION THEREWITH, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID MOVABLE LOUVER MEMBERS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE LOUVER MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS. 